Pirâmide alimentar

The food pyramid is an instrument, in graphic form, which aims to guide people towards a healthier diet. It is a general food guide that demonstrates what daily food should be like for a healthy population, over 2 years of age.

Each part of the pyramid represents a food group and the number of servings recommended daily. In the daily diet, we must always include all the recommended groups to guarantee the nutrients that our body needs. The foods that need to be consumed in greater quantities are at the base of the pyramid; the ones that need to be consumed in the smallest, at the top.

To know the correct number of daily servings to be ingested from each food group, it is necessary to observe the daily calories that each individual needs.

Therefore, it is necessary for the nutritionist to plan the food program, as it varies according to sex, weight, age, height and individual needs. On average, most individuals need at least a minimum number of servings within the recommended ranges.

ancient pyramid In 1992, the US Department of Agriculture (DAUSA) created the first pyramid scheme. It encouraged the intake of carbohydrates - such as pasta, breads and cereals - rather than fats. This pyramid divided into eight groups that were located between four floors aimed that the main food to be consumed should be carbohydrates, followed by fruits and vegetables, in sequence Dairy, along with meats and legumes. At the top of the pyramid, foods that should rarely be eaten: sweets and fats and foods high in protein.

About the pyramid, in the 90s, it was concluded that it could be harmful to health for several reasons, such as declaring fat totally harmful to health, when, in fact, it has some types, such as olive oil, which, when consumed in ideal quantity, they do not harm health. This first pyramid is often confused with the Mediterranean diet pyramid, first presented at a 1993 scientific conference in Boston [1]

new pyramid The food pyramid is also known as the functional pyramid, based on healthy foods, that is, your diet aims to ingest vitamins, minerals, fibers, etc., which act in the proper functioning of the whole organism. The new pyramid contains only seven groups.

The base of the pyramid is formed by weight control and physical exercises. One floor up, whole foods that are full of fiber and vegetable oils that contain HDL, high-density lipoprotein. On the next floor, we find vegetables and fruits, which also provide fiber and vitamins. On the fourth floor, oilseeds and legumes, which are important sources of vitamins, minerals and protein. In particular, on this floor we have antioxidants, which prevent some health problems. Fish, eggs and poultry form the fifth floor, which is high in protein and the egg high in cholesterol. On the 6th floor, almost at the top, there is a calcium supplement, which can come from milk and dairy products. Finally, on top, refined grains rich in carbohydrates and red meat that contains saturated fats. In this organization, we can see that the foods were better divided, because, in the ancient pyramid, the carbohydrates were at the base; in the new one, the group was divided into two and one of them is at the base and the other at the top, this also happens with fats.